Photo credit: Association of Pickleball Players (APP)
APP Release January 5, 2024 (Daytona Beach, FL) —The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) concluded a historic event in Daytona Beach today by awarding the largest-ever prize purse for Champions and Masters pro pickleball players—$75,000—to top finishers at the inaugural 2024 AARP U.S. Champions Cup. The APP Signature Event held four exciting days of action at one of the nation’s top pickleball venues, Pictona at Holly Hill.
The 2024 AARP U.S. Champions Cup attracted hundreds of players from 38 different states, featuring the sport’s elite professionals in the AARP Champions (50+) and AARP Masters (60+) Divisions, plus amateurs of all skill levels in various age brackets 40 and older.
“Not only was the event awesome, it was also very heartwarming,” commented APP Founder Ken Herrmann. “To see all the top AARP Champions and AARP Masters pros competing along with the hundreds of amateurs in the 40 and older brackets was terrific. There was a place for all players this weekend, and with AARP by our side it made it that much more special.”
“We are thrilled to have worked with the APP to hold the first AARP U.S. Champions Cup,” said Barbara Shipley, AARP senior vice president of brand integration. “The event celebrated the spirit of competition and showcased AARP’s commitment to helping people stay active at every age. Congratulations to all the participants, as well as the first-time players who came to learn, and we are grateful to the referees, volunteers, and everyone involved.”
David Spearman was the big winner in the AARP Masters Division with the triple crown, taking home three gold medals. One came in men’s doubles with Scott Moore and another alongside Kristin Hickman in mixed doubles. Spearman then secured his third gold medal of the tournament with a men’s singles title. Cynthia Dardis and Jenny Reifeis won the women’s doubles title.
“Gold never gets old,” Moore said following the win with Spearman. “The competition is always tough, so it was very satisfying to get that one. The APP just does it right. They take care of us, and Pictona is a great venue – one of my favorites in the world. I love playing here in Daytona.”
“This tournament showed how strong the competition is,” said Jennifer Dawson, gold medalist in AARP Champions Division women’s doubles alongside Nathalie Bagby. “It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase our talents. It’s always fun to play in APP events, and we just had a blast.”
Additional Details
All pro winners are shown below, with full tournament results available here. The APP Tour returns to action in Sacramento on March 6-10, and returns to Florida on March 20-24 for the 2024 Chase APP Miami Open, the APP’s first Major tournament of the season, plus the inaugural APP Atlantic Cup, an APP Signature Event featuring Team USA against Team Europe.
More information about upcoming APP events—including Tour dates, player registration and ticket information—is available on theapp.global. Pickleball enthusiasts can also stay in the know by following the APP on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok, Threads and LinkedIn.
AARP Champions Division (50+) Pro Results
| Division | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Women’s Singles | Karin Ptaszek-Kochis | Aye Unnoppet | Brenda Tilford |
| Men’s Singles | Rick Witsken | Paul Olin | Arick Lane |
| Women’s Doubles | Nathalie Bagby and Jennifer Dawson | Christie Domoracki and Helen Wilhelm | Sheri Courter and Christine Karges |
| Men’s Doubles | Jose Derisi and Mircea Morariu | Altaf Merchant and Dave Weinbach | Kristopher Heddings and Rick Witsken |
| Mixed Doubles | Eva Welsher and Dave Weinbach | Angela Simon and Dan Granot | Anna Shirley and Mircea Morariu |
AARP Masters Division (60+) Pro Results
| Division | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Men’s Singles | David Spearman | Egan Adams | Steve Price |
| Women’s Doubles | Cynthia Dardis andJenny Reifeis | Kelly Ojeda and Stacy Potter | Pam Gilbert andSue Johnston |
| Men’s Doubles | Scott Moore and David Spearman | Bill Muno and F.D. Wilder | Orestes Baez and Joey Brandes |
| Mixed Doubles | Kristin Hickman and David Spearman | Sue Johnston and Steve Price | Diane Wainio and Todd Headley |